Wednesday, November 30, 2011

It took a long moment for his words to register in my brain, his thick Russian accent playing tricks on my ears, or so I thought....

"You have very big poops."

He said it several times in response to the alarmed look on my face...

"Very big poops! Not good."

Standing in my living room, I took a step back, almost in self defense, and to distance myself from the potential conversation this near stranger was attempting to have with me. Joseph had been washing my windows, inside and out, for the past ten years but we were hardly on friendly enough terms for this type of chit-chat.

Again, with one last ditch effort to help me understand he said...

"YOU.

HAVE.

VERY.

BIG.

POOPS!"

...As if saying it slower and louder would make it easier for my brain to comprehend.

And then he held up his hand to show me, his thick fingers unfolding to reveal mouse poop.

Oh thank gawd!

Seriously, the first thing I thought was that now I didn't have to find a new window washer because I definitely would not hire a poop talking guy again, but alas, it was only mouse poop.

Phew!

Then the words sunk in. Mouse poop!

WTH?!?

Joseph found the "big poops", three small droppings, upstairs in my office. That meant the "mouse" was INSIDE my house-- In fact, it was on the floor next to my sewing machine.

Instantly my head hurt.

Thirty minutes later I was at Ace Hardware buying mouse traps in small, medium and large sizes to capture the pooping pest and get it the hell out of my house. Eleven traps ought to do it, don't you think? (I hope, I hope!)

But before I raced to the store, I closed my bedroom door-- Right after I scoured it high and low for any trace of mouse droppings. There were none, thank gawd, otherwise I'd have to move into a hotel until the deed was done and the mouse, which, in my imagination was growing by leaps and bounds, lived elsewhere.

So now here I sit, with legs crossed under me so there isn't the slightest possibility of our four-legged friend scurrying over my feet to get to the peanut butter filled traps. And yes, I have said several sincere prayers that the traps are indeed for a mouse and not it's much larger cousin.

Ewww.

*****

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The first thing that popped in my mind was how would he know that...I was going to say have him arrested...lol...I so understand the mouse situation...thank goodness I have a cat,,,but your traps should work...good luck...keep your feet up.hugs.

For the record.... I know the droppings are new because the entire house was cleaned, from top to bottom, just two days age-- So this is a new situation-- And I'm officially freaked out by it. Ugh.xo jj

Oh Joanna! I think I sent my creature from Oregon to your place. He was big enough to make big poops too. The scary thought is that it is walking around bravely, like he knows exactly where the party is. Hope you catch him soon so you'll have no more big poops.

Freakin mice!We had LOTS of them in our last home, thanks to two piggy teenage sons living like pigs upstairs!I used peanut butter on traps too... and I caught about 9 all up!I hope you catch yours before he/she multiplies!!!

hahaha, this is so funny. At first I was actually READING it wrong and thought you were writing about moose droppings and that they were so BIG. haha Then I saw MOUSE and it made me shiver. I hate hate hate mice and you will see me jump on chairs and tables if they are around. I sure hope those traps help and you catch the ugly little bastard! :)

I think your window washer might be related to one of my neighbors, just can NEVER understand the guy. nice guy though.Living in the mountains, mice are a part of life. We use safetraps, they cost about a buck. Then we take the mouse about a mile away from our house (safetrap tucked into a paper bag, because the poor thing is already terrified), and set him/her free.Good luck with your mouse.Btw, I think you might be the only person who comments on my blog anymore. Thanks for always letting me know that you are there. xo d

Okay JJ you made me spit coffee reading this, and laughing out loud again. But then the shiver set in at the word - M.O.U.S.E. I'm not fond of those critters in my house. We had one come in with a fridge we bought years ago and I was beside myself - like you I had traps all over the place. Peanut butter worked the best to lure the critter to the trap and once he was gone I could relax again. Hugs!!

The best solution to mice around here was our cat, Violet. It's tough, I've heard, in the city because the mice don't have as many natural predators to keep them in check. We actually have fewer problems in the country. Weird, eh?

Hey, mice aren't so bad; they're certainly better than the alternatives -- roaches, or rats! I've heard that mothballs are supposed to keep them away. I've tried them -- I think they work to some extent. But the only sure thing, as suggested, is the cat (but then you've simply traded mouse poop for cat poop!)

Oy vey! We have them outside which is bad enough, but inside would truly leave me a neurotic mess. The other night our dog was barking incessantly and when I asked hubby wth he was barking about he says, "He cornered a rat." So now I can't step foot in the backyard again! Hope you capture your little terrorist soon.

Hate to tell you, but closing doors will not keep mouse/mice out -- if a pencil can roll under the door, so can a mouse (even a RAT in fact). Mice don't bother me so much, but we used to get giant RATS in buildings at the university, especially buildings that contained cafes. An on-going problem. The pest control dudes would try and find the 'point of entry' and seal it up as best they could.

Good luck! And yes, pb works the best, I think, from personal experience.

So we have electric mouse traps. They work great! You put the peanut butter inside and then when they stand on the floor of the trap to eat the bait, zap from the 4 AA batteries sends them to mouse heaven. A light on the outside lets you know you've caught an intruder. It's made by Victor and I highly recommend them.

We had a mouse in the house last year and he kept emptying the traps without getting caught. I mentioned this to a friend of ours who gave me the best trick. After you bait the trap with peanut butter, slide it into an empty cereal box (or other slim, flat box) laid on its side (the wide side). The mouse doesn't have enough room to steal the bait without getting caught. It worked great, I highly recommend it! Good luck!

When one has big poops, it is good that someone informs them. I hope you thanked Joseph for making you aware. Funny how the mice like peanut butter over cheese, huh. Maybe the new generation mice are off dairy.

My, my, my. I'm a catch-and-release sort of guy, and I tend to give them cookies as going away presents, too, so... Anyway, good luck.

I've heard that mint is a nasty smell to a mouse, so you might plant some peppermint leaves or whatnot in places you don't want them (or ESPECIALLY don't want them, as I'm sure you don't actually want them anywhere at all.)

JJ, I needed a good laugh today! At first, I thought you were going to say that your window washer was telling you that you had big boobs or something along those lines. As for the mice, the traps should work. But I am thinking maybe you need to borrow a couple of cats. Mice can smell them, and tend to avoid hanging around. And of course, the cats hunt 'em down :-) Good luck with the poops! LOL!

Seasonal poop tidings:"Santa came and went last nightTraveling on his worldwide loop.Because you weren't so good this yearYou get no coal, just snowman poop.Round and white, tasty and lightEat some for sweet dreams tonight! "

Well the treats are sweet..of course because they are from you hon! The rodent droppings...ackk give me the creeps. I love little rodents..in a cage. But in my house..not so much. Not afraid of them just don't like them and they smell!! Is why I have a cat..all the time..forever:) Huge hugs..and breathe. :)

you can't scare them away, but the sticky traps will work. just remember all traps must be placed up against a wall as mice tend to follow walls as they run....they don't tend to just run out in the middle of rooms.

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